NCAA MEN’S REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: March 16th-March 22nd
Happy Patriots Day people! It’s a little chilly for a run, but it’s a day off so I feel like moving and shaking. I’m just in that good of a mood. No more intro is necessary. Let’s get dancin.
A-SOUTH
Player: Michael “MVP” Buxbaum
Team: Johns Hopkins
Results: Clinched the 5-4 match against Mary Washington
Recap: Buxbaum had other matches against Swarthmore and whatnot, but the match to watch here was against Mary Washington. Hopkins was caught in a 4-4 battle with a lower ranked team and needed to avoid the upset. Despite losing a set, Buxbaum took my nickname for him to heart and won his match over Tyler Carey in the third set. This was a big time win for Buxbaum and the Jays and it saved them the potential of moving down in the NCAA seeding process. Oh and by the way, Buxbaum won his #2 doubles match to save the Jays from getting swept as well. MVP. MVP.
What’s next: They’ll try to avoid an upset again with the Beeshops coming to town, then the Centennial Conference Championships.
Honorary Mention: David Lunding Johannson, UMW
Non-tennis related athletic feat that you’re most proud of: I kissed a girl, and I liked it.
Thoughts on Tim Tebow: Remember the last time Mark Sanchez, TIm Tebow, and a slightly overweight coach were on the same team with a rabid fan base that has barely ever won? Yea, those are my thoughts.
Central
Player: Noah Sprinkel
Team: Coe
Results: 2-0 in singles and 1-1 in doubles
Recap: Well the only real big match this weekend was Chicago vs. Gustavus, but since I have already given this award to Mohanad Al-Houni and a couple Chicago players, I thought I would spread the love to Mr. Sprinkel of Coe College. Sprinkel has always been on the bubble when it comes to selection for nationals, but he solidified his spot this weekend by taking out Carswell of Wash U in a match that was not really close at all. Yes Carswell has had some struggles this season, but that doesn’t lessen the fact that Sprinkel took out the top player from the top team in the region. He now has in-region wins over Carswell and Al-Houni (who just beat Chua) and a three set loss to Chua.
What’s next: They travel Whitewater and Sprinkel will clash with Jake Humphreys. Should be a great match.
Honorary Mention: Mohaned Al-Houni (Gustavus), David Liu (Chicago), Will Drougas (Case)
Non-tennis related athletic feat that you’re most proud of: Living to the age of 72 years old and still going strong!
Thoughts on Tim Tebow: “I promise you one thing. A lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season.”
NE
Player: Dan Carpenter
Team: Trinity Ct.
Results: 3-0 at #1 singles, 3-0 at #2 doubles
Recap: Carpenter had a couple of BIG TIME singles wins this week, taking down Liu (Wesleyan) and Reid (Colby) both in straight sets. Both guys are in the top 4 of the NE singles rankings, so look for DC to make a jump in the next rankings. In doubles, Dan paired with fellow senior David Myers to go undefeated at #2 doubles. In doing so, Carpenter helped the Bants earn two crucial points in their 5-4 mini-upset win over Wesleyan.
What’s next: Wednesday at 4pm, Trinity will play at Williams. This match has huge conference tournament implications for about ½ of the conference.
Honorary Mention: There were a bunch of blowouts this week, and therefore a ton of potential POTW candidates this week, so my honorary mention list is longer than usual, but all of these guys had great weeks! Andrew Yaraghi (Amherst), Michael Solimano (Amherst), Rohan Gupte (Tufts), Rob Jacobson (Tufts), Palmer Campbell (Middlebury), William De Quant (Middlebury)
Non-tennis related athletic feat that you’re most proud of: Looking really really good in bike shorts
Thoughts on Tim Tebow: I literally came up with this idea with the intention of embedding the link that D3West used. I’ll defer to him, amazing video.
WEST
Player: Daniel Budd
Team: Texas-Tyler
Results: beat Skinner 7-6 in the third
Recap: It was a slooooooow week in the West region, but this gives me a perfect opportunity to recognize another one of DIII tennis’ feel-good stories. After seeing Budd play his freshman year, I never would’ve thought he would be capable of competing against some of the best players in DIII, but that’s exactly what he’s done. From his humble 1-star origins, he now has wins over Skinner, Carswell, Humphreys, and Sprinkle. He was denied a shot at Krull this weekend, and therefore probably doesn’t have the resume to make nationals (though I’m sure Coach Bizot would like me to remind you that nationals criteria are based on total body of work, not just in-region results). I wouldn’t be too upset if he snuck in the 8-spot, especially with Dancu out of action against CMS and Yaz/Chuddy not playing the in Ojai.
What’s next: Nothing but the ASC championships
Non-tennis related athletic feat that you’re most proud of: two- time 12-and-under shuffleboard champion of Camp Winnebago. Whattup.
Thoughts on Tim Tebow: Not that good at football, and he sparks a media frenzy, but man this was a fun year to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CYAIyeh9J8
REGIONAL
Player: Grayson Frazier
Team: Pacific (OR)
Results: 2-0 in singles (#2 and #3), 3-0 in doubles (#1 and #2)
Recap: I wanted to go Sprinkel, but since Central stole him from me, I’m going back to the NWC. Frazier has had one heck of a year at the #3 spot for the Boxers, with a 12-3 record. He even played #2 last Sunday against Whitman with Brennan Faith out and earned a straight-set win against Petar Jivkov. He’s been solid at doubles as well, mostly playing at #1 with Faith and earning a 12-5 record. Faith/Frazier are currently #8 in the west in doubles, so they likely won’t make it into NCAAs, but Frazier is a senior, so it is great to see him playing well at the end of his career.
What’s next: NWC tournament this weekend! Pacific is the #2 seed and will take on #3 seed George Fox this Saturday. They have lost two tight matches to Whitman this year, and there is never a better time to turn it around than with a NCAA birth on the line.
Honorary mention: Charles Drake (Stevens)
Non-tennis related athletic feat that you’re most proud of: I read a book one time. It was pretty good.
Thoughts on Tim Tebow: How can you not root for this dude to succeed? I would love nothing more than for Tebow to beat out Bradford and Sanchez and become the face of Philly.
Is D3Central really 72? Kudos brotha